Lush Vlad

Fairly small sample size, I suppose? How many would we genuinely have looked at I wonder? Possibly priced out of moves because of the signing bonus or breaking the wage structure. However, we have more commercial deals to come and the wage bill will have been growing steadily since the Saudis took over. No idea what he’s on at Fulham. But would think we can offer a fair bit more. Although Spurs have been rumoured before they signed Dragusin and I think Liverpool, too. So may well get priced out again, even if we were interested. Just seemed an Eddie buy. Big fucker, decent on the ball, Prem proven, come through a quality academy, good age and I think has a decent injury record.

I’m sure he might have better and more lucrative offers. As I believe he is on a free in the summer. But Tosin from Fulham would be a great pick up and might help with FFP and no transfer fee.

Yeah. He was much better back to goal than he has been this season. Did well against some lads who were keen for a wrestle. Osho in particular. I also think he looked a yard faster than when he was last playing. A couple of times down our right he seemed second favourite to get to the ball. Yet he managed to. Let’s hope he has a similar second half to the season as last year. As we are going to need his goals based on yesterday’s collective defending!

Yeah. No way is he the reason for the result. But he was awful for both teams, I thought. Seemed to be fine with big challenges that looked like fouls or people grappling and bearhugging. But any slight contact down the wings or when players were falling over with seemingly no contact. He couldn’t wait to blow up. I’m sure Bruno and Murphy were both gesturing for him to give a yellow card at one point. But didn’t get booked themselves for doing so. He missed some blatant yellows for them and all. He just had the look on his face of someone that was out of their depth.

That cross he played late on was properly in the cliched corridor of uncertainty. More annoying than Murphy’s miss. Was that nobody attacked that area and got on the end of it before. Mental that it’s gone all the way across the face like that and nobody got close to scoring.

Maybe I’m being harsh. But Botman returning hasn’t quite had the effect I was hoping for. Doesn’t seem as dominant as I remember and whilst he’s never been fast. He now looks like our slowest defender a lot of the time. Maybe it’s Pope after all? The defence not being able to play that bit higher and closer to the midfield is what’s made us so disjointed and open with massive gaps all over? That and the 17 other injuries we’ve had

Prefer him on the right under Howe. Tries early crosses and will get at his man down the line. But Almiron looked a lot more comfortable for the short time he was there. He looked a bit lost on the left at times. I don’t think he has the composure, eye for a pass or shooting ability to be cutting in on his right foot. Great option to have and glad he is back. Offers something different to all of our wide men and we’re going to need him now if Gordon is out.

We seem to really have a rush of blood at home in tight games and try to force the issue when there is plenty of time remaining to build something. Liverpool late on, Milan, Forest to a lesser degree, yesterday. Almost feels like we become a bit ill disciplined and everyone over commits going forward. We went mental for a 5-10 minute spell yesterday. Got back in it and then the game was a non-event for the last 15 plus stoppage. Maybe both teams had settled down for a draw or ran out of gas after such a frenetic game.

Only seen him a few times. But that Ogbene is direct and tricky. Plus they mentioned he’s supposedly clocked the fastest time in the league this year. The fact that Howe would have known all this through his own knowledge and a team of analysts. Yet still picked Burn is a bit baffling for such a top manager who’s forgotten more than I know about football. Bailey and Elanga in fairly recent times gave the blueprint for how to get at us. It’s always been targeting Burn in behind and isolating him 1 on 1. I mentioned it in the Burn thread the other day. Maybe Howe thinks what we lose from set pieces and aerial ability in general, along with him tucking in when Trippier bombs on. Is worth the trade off for everything else he’s bad at in open play. Think it’s becoming a real problem, mind and one that teams will just keep exploiting if he starts over Tino.

I thought he had a really good half. It was him that started the shit show for their second goal with that wayward pass to no one. A lot happened after that that was far worse, mind. Other than that, his movement was brilliant and I felt like he was clean through time and again. Yet we played the wrong pass or through ball to the wrong man. Interchanging of positions and when to come short or go long were all usually spot on. All that said, Wilson looked sharp and provided more of a focal point when he came on. He was happy to get involved with the physical stuff and won most of his battles.

Disgraceful that. Basically never a time where that’s acceptable. Except maybe an Owen type situation or someone taking the piss out of the club and the fans. Burn is the polar opposite to a player like Owen, though. Not really his fault he’s out of form and being played regularly in a role that he’s been struggling massively with.

First one? No man’s land if he comes. Shocking defending not winning the first or second ball and not tracked the runner. Second there seemed to be about 5-6 errors. So take your pick which one was the worst. Always going to get scrutinised if you palm the ball back into the middle of the box, I suppose.

Fair. Was often a bit sloppy and he was really weak for the second goal. Although there were mistakes galore for that one, in fairness to him. But two top finishes. He is arguably our only midfielder who arrives late to crash the box, as I believe it is now called. Willock does it and all, I suppose. Tonali next season, hopefully.

Who thinks it’s automatic? There were excuses for the away game. Where we were awful and fatigued. But still should have done better. But today with the players we had available and being at home. I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect a much more composed performance and not to be comfortably outplayed and for large spells, out-passed by Luton Town.

Oh for fuck fucking sake. Hoping it is just precautionary. As Bruno had one of those moon boots on after Fulham at home last season and he was alright for the next game.

Also, the fact he is so much better with his feet than Pope hasn’t mattered much today or in most games, really. As we are often incapable of building from the back or retaining possession under pressure.

Nice to have a player in the front 3 that looks to take a shot on early. Isak is sometimes guilty of wanting extra touches. Gordon and Almiron defintely. Murphy never sets himself, so it’s irrelevant. Great goal, nearly got another that was blocked and then the deflection/save on top. Really positive first game back.

4 points from these games feels like a good return. But when 1 of them is the result of being played off the park for an hour at home to Luton and conceding 4 in the process. It sours it a bit. It’s a bit worrying that we had no control whatsoever against a team that ‘should’ be miles behind us based on players and budgets. Yet they were far more composed and clever with their play and their passing for the majority of the game. The fortress isn’t quite as strong this season.

He regularly seems to be brilliant for a half or so. Then the game passes him by and he seems fucked. I suppose if he was playing the odd 20 minutes here and there and the occasional start. It wouldn’t be as noticeable. Playing too many games at this stage of his career.

Yep. Dominated our midfield for most of the game.

Get past our front 3 and there is no pace in our team. Especially with the Joes out and Howe refusing to start Tino.

Not really much point saying he needs dropping. As he has shown when he’s fit that he almost always starts at left back. Getting targeted regularly now and he is really bad in our build up play or when attacking. In some ways. I admire Howe’s loyalty to players he trusts. But it is becoming a hinderance now. I think it would do Burn and the team some good if he came out the side for at least a game or two.

Load of wank that. Pathetic showing and no idea what the tactics were supposed to be. Wilson and Barnes looked sharp, at least. So some positives.

This is mental. Been shit for the most part. Now in the ascendency. Still feels like we’ll chuck one in late. As we’ve conceded so many late on. Plus they’ve scored a lot of late goals from memory.

I know. He just looks like a PE teacher. Schooled Howe with a team worth 1/100th of ours. Luton doing the double over us. Pathetic